Aircraft sprayer



June 14, 1949. s. A. MONSON AIRCRAFT SPRAYER Filed May 15, 1947 IIIIIIHlllllLL l J6 INVENTOR.

J'Zme/ 4/7 Momma BY '%%%aqflmmv ATTOR/VEXJ Patented June 14, 1949 AIRCRAFT SPRAYER Sidney A. Monson, Bellegladc, Fla, assignor to Monson Manufacturing 00., Inc., Lakeland, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application May 13, 1947, Serial No. 747,815

2 Claims. 1 This invention relates to aircraft sprayers, and more particularly to the type that is attachable to airplanes for the purpose of spraying plant seeds, liquid, dust, insecticides, warfare chem icals, and other comminuted materials.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a sprayer of the type described that thoroughly and efiiciently mixes air with the spraying material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprayer of the type described that is controllable to vary the concentration and direction of the spray.

' Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of the new and improved spraying apparatus as attached to the fuselage of an airplane.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the spraying apparatus, taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the spraying apparatus, taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

With particular reference to the drawings, it will be observed that the spraying apparatus forming the subject matter of this invention is attached to the underside of the fuselage ll) of an airplane by means of a vertical support II. The central portion of the spraying device comprises an upper member l2 and a lower member I3, converging toward the rear, as shown most clearly in Figure 2.

The central portion of the device further comprises two vertical side walls l4 that diverge from front to rear, as shown more particularly in Figure 3.

The anterior end of the device comprises a downwardly depending baffle 20, an upwardly extending throat 2|, and two vertical walls 23 and 24. The throat 2| is attached to a floor member 26 that extends laterally to the side walls I4, and rearwardly to the outlet. Consequently, the baffle 20, the throat 2|, and the two side walls 23 and 24 constitute a chamber for guiding the air that is to be mixed with the spray. Similarly, the upper member l2, the floor member 26, and the two vertical side walls M constitute a chamher where the air and the spray are mixed. The bottom member I3 constitutes a support for the 2 throat 2| and the floor member 26, and may be omitted if the throat 2| and the floor member 26 are otherwise supported.

The vertical support H is tubular, and the interior thereof contains a hopper 3B for the liquid or comminuted material. The hopper 30 is positioned immediately above the upper member l2, and an opening 3| in the latter permits the material to fall into the mixing chamber. A vertical rod 32, under the control of the pilot of the aircraft, provides adjustment of the size of the opening 3|.

A butterfly valve 35, mounted on a horizontal pivot, and likewise under the control of a member of the crew, provides regulation of the amount of air entering the mixing chamber.

The throat 2| is adjustably secured to the floor member 28 by means of a bolt 36. This adjustment is in an anterior posterior direction, and controls not only the amount of air entering the mixing chamber, but also the degree of turbulence in the mixing chamber and consequently the degree of mixing.

Two exterior side walls 4!] and M, converging rearwardly as indicated in Figure 3, constitute, in conjunction with the walls If, two air nozzles 42, for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

It will be observed that the bafiie 20 extends downwardly below the opening 3| in the upper member l2, for the purpose of directing the air stream to the bottom of the mixing chamber to combine more thoroughly with the comminuted material falling through the opening 3|.

To aid in more thorough mixing of the air and the comminuted material and in more even distribution thereof, the invention contemplates the use of a deflector in the rear portion of the mixing chamber, the deflector 45 having front walls 46 and A! that are substantially parallel with the walls M.

The rear end of the mixing chamber is provided with an upper flap 50 and a lower flap 5|, both of these flaps being mounted on horizontal hinges and being likewise under the control of a member of the crew.

In the operation of the device, the comminuted material in the hopper 39 is fed by gravity into the front portion of the mixing chamber. The amount of air is controlled by means of the butterfly valve 35. The air and the comminuted material are thoroughly mixed in the front portion of the mixing chamber and are thereafter diverted to both sides of the deflector 45. In this fashion, the spray is not only mixed thoroughly,

but is also spread out laterally to cover a very wide area. The air nozzles 42 between the walls 40 and i4 and the walls 4| and [4 will impinge on the spray leaving the mixin chamber to direct the latter in an even and uniform distribution. The flaps 50 and 5| will of course control the vertical distribution of the spray.

The position -..of the throat 2! with? respect to? the floor-member 26 may be adjusted in accord-- ance with the nature and consistency of the comminuated material to be sprayed.

It has been observed that the device is extreme: ly eflicacious when positioned behind the pro peller of an airplane so as to obtainthebenefitss of its backwash.

More even distribution is obtained when the;

upper member 12 and the floor.v member. 26 are. flared laterally, as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings. 5| will be flared accordingly.

It will benoted that the greatestconstrictionv inthemixing chamber is in the immediate vicinity of the lowermost portion; of the baffle 20. This constriction will in effect form a venturi, whereby the greatest velocity and lowest pressure. exists at-thev point oftheconstriction. The constriction. being near the opening 31, the. particular conformation of the anterior portion of the mixing chamber. will. aid in withdrawing. the comminuted material from the hopper 30 through the opening 3 I.

What is claimed is:

1, Aspraying apparatus, comprising an air inlet chamber, a mixing chamber arranged rearwardly ofsaid air. inlet chamber and in communication therewith, said mixing chambercomprising, a forward portion,,a relatively wide rearward portion, and an intermediate portion, a supply chamber containing insecticidematerial communicating with the forward portion of said mixing chamber, said inlet chamber having an upwardly extending throat and a downwardly extending bailie to form a venturi, whereby the material in said supply tank is. sucked into said mixing chamber, means in the forward portion of said mixing chamber for controlling. the turbulence of the air therein, means in said intermediate portion for evenly divertin the material discharging from said mixing chamber ina hori- When this is done, the flaps 50 and,

zontal direction, means adjacent the rearward portion of said mixing chamber for controlling the discharge of said material in a vertical direction, and a pair of air jets disposed at opposite sides of said rearward portion for laterally impinging said material being discharged from said rearward portion into the atmosphere to effect an evendistribution thereof;

2..A spraying apparatuscomprising an air inlet chamber, a mixing chamber arranged rearwardly of said air inlet chamber and in communication therewith, said mixing chamber comprising-a forward portion, a relatively wide rearward. pprtioni andanintermediate portion, a supply chamb'erpontaining insecticide material communicating. with the forward portion of said mixing chamber, saidjnlet chamber having an upwardly extending throat and a downwardly ex tending b'aille to form a venturi, whereby the material in said supply,-tank is sucked into said mixing chamber, means in the forward portion o;sa-id mixing chamber. for controlling the-turbulenceof the air therein, means insaid inlet chamber for controlling. the volume of air entering therein, means in,saidintermediate portion. for evenly diverting-the material dischargingfrom said, mixing chamber in a horizontal direction, means adjacent. the rearward portion of said mixing chamber for controlling the. dis-. charge, of said materialin a verticaldirection, and a pair, of air, jets disposed. at opposite. sides otlsaid rearward portion. for. laterally impinging said material being discharged'from said rear- Wardportioninto, the, atmosphere to efiect an even distribution thereof.

SIDNEY A. MONSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file. of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 1,300,160 Glover -1 Apr. .8, 1919 1,580,301 Johnson Apr. 13,1926 1,691,205 Morse; Nov. 13, 1928. 1,703,308 Johnson Feb. 26, 1929 1,892,132 Berney Dec. 27, 1932 2,427,937. Wilson Sept. 23, 1947 

